Samples

Higher education and academic libraries are in a period of rapid evolution. Technology, pedagogical shifts, and programmatic changes in education mean that libraries must continually evaluate and adjust their services to meet new needs. Research and learning across institutions is becoming more team-based, crossing disciplines and dependent on increasingly sophisticated and varied data. To provide valuable services in this shifting, diverse environment, libraries must think about new ways to support research on their campuses, including collaborating across library and departmental boundaries. This book is intended to enrich and expand your vision of research support in academic libraries by

inspiring you to think creatively about new services;

sparking ideas of potential collaborations within and outside the library, increasing awareness of functional areas that are potential key partners;

providing specific examples of new services, as well as the decision-making and implementation process; and

encouraging you to take a broad view of research support rather than thinking of research and instruction services, metadata creation and data services etc as separate initiatives.

Dynamic Research Support in Academic Libraries provides illustrative examples of emerging models of research support and is contributed to by library practitioners from across the world.

Starr Hoffman

Starr Hoffman is Head of Planning and Assessment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she assesses many activities, including the library's support for and impact on research. Previously she supported data-intensive research as the Journalism and Digital Resources Librarian at Columbia University in New York. Her research interests include the impact of academic libraries on students and faculty, the role of libraries in higher education and models of effective academic leadership. When she's not researching, she's taking photographs and traveling the world.

"A worthwhile read for academic librarians who are looking to create new functional areas in libraries with budget and staffing constraints, as well as those seeking an international perspective on the future of research support in academic settings."— Library Journal

"Hoffman's collection showcases how we can add long-term value for our users by focusing on going 'deeper' and delivering comprehensive specialist services which tap into a very real need. Whilst such projects may require significant investment (particularly in terms of staff time, which is a recurring motif), the examples in Dynamic Research Support provide evidence that the return will often far exceed the cost."— Michelle Dalton, Libfocus

"Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries provides illustrative examples of emerging models of research support and is contributed to by library practitioners from across the world. Knowledgeably compiled and expertly Starr Hoffman (Head of Planning and Assessment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she assesses many activities, including the library's support for and impact on research), Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries is strongly recommended for college and university Library Science instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.— Midwest Book Review

"Inspiring ... This collection is highly recommended for academic librarians who are wondering how to support emerging methods of research."— Against the Grain